•Outlook: A really young group, the Seahorses are looking to learn and improve as the season progresses. With just one senior, Cross, and a multitude of freshmen, the team will be looking to build for the future and Pecor expects that the leadership of Cross will help the team. "It's a good group of kids," the coach said. "I think they have a good attitude. We're going to learn a lot and we'll grow a lot."

•Outlook: After just one win last season, coach Potter has seen a lot of improvement out of this year's CVU squad. With a handful of good hitters and some depth at pitching — plus an improved group of incoming players from last year's JV team — the Redhawks are aiming to win more games. "The skill will come along with it as long as they have the spirit," Potter said. "This is a spirited bunch."

•Up next: Thursday at Mount Abraham

Colchester's Jordan Schrabel (7) collides with Brittany Isatelle (11) as she catches a fly ball during the girls high school softball game between the Missisquoi Thunderbirds and the Colchester Lakers at Colchester High School on Tuesday afternoon in Colchester.(Photo: BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press)

COLCHESTER

•Coach: Courtney Goetz (second season)

•Last season: 6-12; lost to BFA-St. Albans in the Division I quarterfinals

•Outlook: An experienced group with two very young pitchers, the Lakers have some serious playoff goals this season. "The end goal for them is to win one more playoff game than they did last year," Goetz said. The team is focusing on their work at the plate and getting the starting pitchers, with Sheets as the go-to, some more experience.

•Up next: Tuesday at Vergennes

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Essex pitcher #6 Allison Rutz winds up, delivering a strike to Missisquoi Valley. Inning after inning went scoreless between the two, until Missisquoi Valley found an opening late in the game, pulling off a 4-0 win at Essex Tuesday.(Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

•Outlook: While the pitcher and catcher return this season with a ton of experience, the Hornets will have to work in an entire outfield and most of the infield. Essex, which Wells labels as a work in progress, will have a solid base with Rutz, who has only lost three games in two years, in the circle. "The young kids are aggressive at the plate," Wells said. "We're very young. We have good athletes so they will get it."

•Up next: Thursday vs. North Country

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Milton pitcher #8 Katie Rayner manages to steal third base after stealing second. Her final attempt to get to home would have her tagged out during their softball match up at Milton High School Thursday afternoon.(Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

•Outlook: "We're pushing for a trip to the 'ship," said Slayton about this year's Milton team. The Yellowjackets have combined a solid presence on the mound in Rayner with strong bats, including senior Donaldson, to jump out to an early 2-0 start. "We have a lot of veterans, a lot of experience on the field," said Slayton. "They know what it's going to take."

•Up next: Thursday vs. St. Johnsbury

MOUNT MANSFIELD

•Coach: Bruce Garrapy (second season)

•Last season: 11-7; lost to Missisquoi in the Division I quarterfinals

•Outlook: A motivated senior class has big plans for the Mount Mansfield team this season, according to Garrapy. The team, which didn't graduate any players, will rely on the strong pitching and hitting that is paced by senior Sydney LeBourveau. "We are expecting much bigger things this year," Garrapy said. "They want to get to Poultney (for the state finals) this year and be in that final group."

•Up next: Tuesday vs. Middlebury

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The Rice girls softball team meets on the mound between innings at Tuesday's game against Essex on April 22, 2014.(Photo: EMILY McMANAMY/FREE PRESS)

•Outlook: The Green Knights will rely heavily on their strong defense and hitting with almost no experience in the circle. The team, which is giving some field players a chance to try pitching, is very experienced and DiFalco thinks that will help Rice to a .500 record this season. "These guys are having fun," DiFalco said. "That's going to play a key role in how the season goes."

•Up next: Thursday vs. Essex

SOUTH BURLINGTON

•Coach: Seth McQuade (third year)

•Last season: 4-13; lost to Mount Mansfield in the Division I playdowns

•Outlook: The strength of this year's South Burlington squad will be hitting, said McQuade, but the Rebels still have to work with a young pitching and catching staff. The freshman/sophomore duo of Sargent and Dubuque will have to gain varsity experience, but the McQuade thinks that the Rebels can aim for a .500 record, an improvement on last year's four-win season.

•Outlook: The biggest goal for Winooski and new coach Kyle Blindow is to see improvement this season — and it's so far so good despite an early loss. The team, which has experience in the circle with Bray and the infield with Nattress and Metivier, hopes to improves on its win-loss record from last year, using defense and strong bats. "We're optimistic," Blindow said. "My goal this year is to see a lot of positive interactions and big improvements from last year."